PHOTOCATALYTIC STERILIZATION OF MICROBIAL -CELLS WITH TITANIA THIN-FILM PREPARED BY SOL-GEL METHOD

A titania thin film was fixed on a glass plate (200 mm in length, 25 m m in width and 2 mm in thickness) at a preparation temperature of 423 K, following the hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthotitanate. Photocatalyti c sterilization of Escherichia coli was conducted using the prepared t itania thin film. The sterilization rate increased with the increase i n amount of fixed titania ranging from 0 to 1.2x10(-3) kg/m(2). The ap parent sterilization rate constant was determined by applying a series -event model to experimental data. A linear relation was observed betw een the determined rate constant and the quantity of light absorbed by the titania thin film in the range of 0 to 1.0 J/min.